At least 831 youths graduated in Makueni under the 2jiajiri Programme sponsored by Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Foundation in partnership with the county government.
The six-month training was aimed at equipping the youths with technical and entrepreneurial skills to enable them become self-reliant and combat rising unemployment among the youth.
The graduates were awarded certificates on carpentry, electrical, hairdressing and beauty therapy, knitting and leather work, plumbing, baking and pastry and computer operations among others.
Addressing the graduates at Makueni Integrated Vocational Education Centre (MIVEC), Makueni governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr said that through the partnership, they have spent Sh60 million to train the youths to acquire technical skills.
At the same time, Mutula informed the youths that the government will provide them with tools to start businesses, besides getting a permit waiver to ensure smooth running of their undertakings.
The training of the youths to acquire the various courses in the last six-months took place in Vocational Training Centres (VTC), spread across the county.
“My government and KCB Foundation will provide 264 youths with toolkits of trade and at the same time give a waiver in provision of permit to enhance businesses,” said Mutula, while officiating the graduation event at MIVEC in Wote town, in Makueni Sub county.
During the event, the governor, said that the County Assembly of Makueni has passed the Makueni Empowerment Youth Fund, where youths registered in groups will get a loan of between Sh50,000and Sh500,000 to start income generating projects.
“Only youths registered in groups will benefit from this fund. I encourage you to form groups, so that you can get loans to help you initiate income generating projects to fight unemployment among the youth,” he said.
Also, Mutula disclosed that his administration has invested Sh80 million in VTC infrastructure in the last three years, while saying the county has allocated funds for the 2026/2027 financial year, geared towards expanding youth empowerment.
On his part, the KCB Foundation Head of Programme, Joblin Omani said the 2jiajiri programme aims at bridging the skills gap by combining technical training with business, development and access to toolkits.
“The 264 who topped their classes today have proven they are ready for the market. The toolkits are seed capital for their hustles,” Omani observed.
Present at the function included deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, Makueni County Assembly Speaker Douglas Mbilu, County Executive Committee member for Education Japheth Mang’oka among others.
by Felister Ndinda and Miriam Ndunge
